Barings LLC Invests $1.38 Million in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

Barings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 50,909 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,383,000.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the third quarter worth $30,000. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in Graphic Packaging in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Graphic Packaging by 2,484.0% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,292 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,242 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its position in Graphic Packaging by 92.7% in the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,432 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 689 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in Graphic Packaging by 58.2% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,493 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 549 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $30.00 target price (down previously from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and raised their target price for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Graphic Packaging presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $31.70.

Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

Shares of GPK stock opened at $27.74 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $8.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $27.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.39. Graphic Packaging Holding has a one year low of $25.13 and a one year high of $30.70.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.63 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.15 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.47% and a return on equity of 25.96%. The business’s revenue was down 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.75 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.47 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Investors of record on Saturday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. This is an increase from Graphic Packaging’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.59%. Graphic Packaging’s payout ratio is presently 20.37%.

About Graphic Packaging

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, produces, and sells consumer packaging products to brands in food, beverage, foodservice, household, and other consumer products. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Manufacturing, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging.